Seat-indicator attachment for flash-lights



P. A. P INTO. 1

SEAT INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR FLASH LIGHTS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1919.

1,360,575. Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

UNITED STATES PERES A. PINTO, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

SEAT-INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR FLASH-LIGHTS.

Application filed October 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERES A. PINTO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seat- Indicator Attachments for Flash-Lights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to seat indicators and primarily aims to design an article of this character which is to be used in indicating the number of seats vacant in a mov ing picture theater or other darkened play house and at the same time capable of illuminating the vacant seat, so that the patrons may be easily and conveniently seated.-

A further object of my invention is to provide an article as above mentioned which is of such a structure as to be capable of being used with any flash light of standard construction and to this end I have designed a detachable cap having a reduced hollow extension with openings through its sides and top, the side openings being covered with panes of glass, and the top opening having a magnifying glass that is oppositely disposed to the magnifying glass positioned at the base of the extension.-

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for flash lights of standard make, of a hollow construction, having panes with numbers thereon covering the openings through its sides, and means for evenly distributing the rays of light within the chamber of the structure, said attachment being simple, practical, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like. parts are designated by like numerals throughout the same,

Figure 1, is a perspective View of a flash light with my attachment appliedthereto;

Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional View through the flashlight, showmg in detail the construction of my attachment, and

Fig. 3, is a plan view of a detail of the device.

In the drawings, wherein for thepurpose of illustration, I have ,shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 Specification of Letters Iatent.

v Patented Nov. 30, 192 0. 1919. Serial No. 330,022.

of the casing. The cells are held in contact wlth the bulb through the medium of the spring 8 which contacts with the bottom of the lowermost battery. A disk or plate 11 is rigidly secured within the casing a. slight distance above the upper cell having an opening 12 through its center. A conical shaped reflector 13 is positioned within the casing directly above the plate 12 and is provided with an annular internally screw threaded extension 14; which passes through the opening 12. The screw threads provided on the interior of this extension are to receive the external screw threads of the bulb 10. Thus when assembled in this fashion the reflector and bulb will be held in a rigid pobition, thus permitting the bulb to remain constantly in contact with the batteries.

The current supplied thereto is controlled by the switch 16 which is of the usual and well known type. Seated upon the upper marginal edge of the conical shaped reflector 13 is a plano convexed shaped magnifying glass 15, the center of which projects a slight distance beyond the upper end of the casing.

Referring more specifically to my attachment a detachable cap 17 is screw threadedly connected to the upper end of the casing, as at 18. In this instance I have shown this cap to be of a circular configuration but it must be understood that various shapes and forms may be used to permit the use of my attachment with various forms of flash lights. An extension 19 is formed integral with the cap and is of a substantially square hollow construction. This extension is smaller in width than the diameter of the cap, so that a horizontal square shaped flange 20 extends around the upper edge of the casing and engages the outer surface of the magnifying glass, holding the same rigidly upon its seat. The extension is provided with a square opening 21 through each of its sides for the emissionof theillumination within the chamber which is produced by the electric bulb. The top of the extension is provided with a round countersunkopening 22 having an annular flange 23 upon which is seated a plane convexed mag- 7 nifying glass 24. This glass is positioned directly over the center of the first mentioned magnifying glass so that the ray issuing therefrom will pass therethrough.

Within the casin and alon the u 3 )er ed es printed upon their face.

From the foregoing the construction of the device is obvious and the operation is equally as simple and highly eflicient in view of the method which is now employed to accomplish the function for which it is designed. The system which is now employed in most of the large moving picture theaters is to employ two ushers, one of which stands at the front of the theater while the other remains in the rear and the number of seats vacant is transmitted through the use of the hands, the number being designated by a corresponding number of fingers which are raised by the usher down front. While this method has proved very eflicient in a number of theaters it is practically useless in a majority of play houses, the interior of which is very dark. Therefore, I have designed my device to be used in houses of this character and to this end I provide an attachment for flash lights of the ordinary structure which consists of a square shaped extension attached to the upper end of the flash light, said extension having openings through each of its sides covered with glass panes with numbers thereon. Thus, when the flash light is illuminated the rays of the bulb within the casing will be evenly distributed within the chamber of the extension by the magnifying glass, illuminating the numbers upon the panes positioned in the openings. The number corresponding to the seats vacant is then pointed in the direction of the usher who is at the other end of the theater, so that he can readily see the number of vacant seats. Since it is sometimes necessary to illuminate the seat which is vacant, so that the patron will 'have no trouble in reaching the same, I

have placed a second magnifying glass of smaller size in the top of the extension directly above the first mentioned glass so that the rays from the bulb will pass therethrough and may be used for the above purpose. It is readily apparent that a device of the above character has been produced having a which will'eifectually and satisfactorily accomplish the result for which it is designed and yet may be manufactured in a short time and at a small cost. \Vhile it has been "my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that certain changes in the shape. size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a flash light, a reduced extension attached thereto, numbered panes mounted in the sides of said extension, and means at the base of the extension to reduce the glare and distribute the light to illuminate the panes.

2. A seat indicator including a flash light, a detachable cap attached thereto, said cap reduced extension, openings through the sides of the extension having transparent panes mounted therein with numbers painted thereon, a magnifying lens at the base of the extension to reduce the glare and evenly distribute the ray of light within the extension, and a second magnifying lens in the top of said extension to permit the emission of light from the chamber to illuminate the vacant seats.

3. A seat indicator including a flash light, a detachable cap attached thereto, a reduced extension formed integral with the cap, openings through the sides of the extension, panes covering said openings having numbers thereon, and a magnifying glass in the base of the extension reducing the glare of light and more evenly distributing it in the chamber of the extension. I

4:. A seat indicator including a flash light, a detachable cap attached to one end, a re duced hollow extension formed integral therewith, openings through the sides and top of the extension, panes covering the side openings with numbers painted thereon, means seated in the top opening to illuminate a vacant seat, and a second magnifying glass positioned at the base of the extension to more evenly distribute the ray of light within the chamber thereof.

5. A seat indicator including a flash light, a detachable cap carried by its upper end, an extension formed integral with the cap being of a square and hollow configuration, openings through the sides of the extension for receiving transparent panes with numbers painted thereon, a countersunk opening in the top of the extension upon which is seated means to illuminate a vacant seat, and a magnifying glass positioned at the base Of the extension and extending slightly within the structure, so as to reduce the glare of the light and more evenly distribute its rays within the chamber.

PERES A. PINTO.

Witnesses:

SOLOMON Roosso, CHAS. F. MORITZ- 

